Tuyere structure and method of changing the same



July 5, 1932. BROSlUS 1,866,080

TUYEJRE STRUCTURE AND METHOD 0F CHANGING THE SAME Filed June 30, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 5, 1932. E. E. BROSIUS TUYERE STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF CHANGING THE SAME Filed June 30, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 5, 1932. E. E. BROSIUS TUYERE STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF CHANGINGTHE SAME Filed June 30, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 givg m A M/M Patented July 5, 1932 seer Fries EDGAR E. BROSIUS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA TUYERE STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF CHANGT LNG THE SAME Application filed June 30, 1931. Serial No. 547,847.

The present invention relates broadly to furnaces of the type usually referred to as blast furnaces, and more particularly to an improved tuyere structure for use with such rfurnaces, affording novel means for changing the tuyerewith the furnace operating under full pressure,

It is customary. in the art to which the present invention relates to provide blast furnaces with tuyeres, usually from ten to sixteen individualtuyeres being utilized in each furnace, these being distributed symmetrically about the upper circumference of the hearth just below the bosh. Such tuyeres function to provide blast admitting means to the furnace, and for determining the height to which the slag may rise inthe furnace. Ordinarily such tuyeres are made of copper, and water cooled to maintain as long a period of usefulness as possible. "Due to the intense heat to which they are subjected however, the tuyeres burn away more'or less rapidly, thus requiring rather frequent renewal. v

While the actual operation of blast fur naces varies to some extent in accordance with the ideas of the particular operators in charge thereof,it is not infrequent to operate furnaces of this character under a Wind pressure of from 10 to 30 lbs. When it is necessary, with standard installations, to replace a tuyere, the blast has to be cut off from the furnace, the tuyere removed, a new tuyere w inserted and the blast again turned on. The

' actual time period for changinga tuyere is usually in the neighborhood of from ten to fifteen minutes, an additional time period being required for the re-establishing of the desired operating conditions within the furnace after the blast is resumed. Assuming an elapsed time of twenty minutes, with a large furnace, .the production of the furnace has been decreased in the neighborhood of from ten to twenty tons, furnaces of the character under consideration being adaptable for production at substantially the rate of from one half to one ton per minute.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that any construction capable of eXpediting the tuyere changing operation, is highly desirable from the standpoint of continuity, of furnace operation and production obtained, as well as from the standpoint of safety to the operators during the tuyere changing operation.

The present invention has for one of its ob ects the provision of an improved tuyere structure such that it may be changedwith the furnace operating under full Wind pressure.

In-the accompanyingdrawings I have illustrated moreor less diagrammatically, a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view largely in vertical section through a portion ofa blast furnace illustrating my improved tuyere structure in operative relation thereto;

F1gure'2 1s a transverse, sectional view on the line IIII of Figure 1, looking in the directionof the arrows; Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line III-+111 of Figure 1; c Figure 4: is a view similar to Figure 1, illustrating a slightly modified embodiment of the invention; V

Figure 5 is an end elcvational view of'a portion of the structure illustrated in Figure 4; f g V Figure" 6 is atransverse sectionalview on the line VIVI of Figure 4,;

Figure 6' is a detail sectional view of one of the water connections;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line VIVI of Figure 6;

through a portion of the structure illustrated inFigure 4 showing certain of the parts in dilferent position;

Figure 8 is a viewsimilar. to Figures 1 and g 4, showingstill another embodiment of the inventi on Figure 9- is a detail plan view of the blow pipe and valve structure ofFigure 8;

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view on the line XX of Figure 8; and I Figure 11 is an end elevational View of the construction illustrated in Figure 8. I 7

Having reference more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated a portion of the i V Figure 7 isv a detail longitudinal view hearth wall 2 of a usual blast furnace ha ing in position therein a tuyere cooler 3. Projecting inwardly from the tuyere cooler, and supported at least partly in position therein is a tuyere 4, which tuyere may be of any standard construction. Extending rearwardly from the tuyere is a blow pipe 5 provided intermediate its ends with a valve 5 of suitable type adapted when closed to divide the blow pipe into an inner section A and an outer section B.

Normally positioned in the inner section A of the blow pipe is a tuyere support or distance piece 6 of such overall dimensions with respect to the blow pipe as to permit the same to be axially moved therethrough. The distance piece '6 is formed, with an upwardly and outwardly curved wall. 'Z constituting a continuation of the blast opening 8 communicating with the tuyere, and constituting the back wall 'of an opening9 in one side of the distance piece. .The opening 9 communicates with a leg pipe 10 constituting a lateral extension from the blow pipe and communicating through a suitable goose-neck 11 with a bustle pipe 12.

Extendinglongitudinally through the distance piece 6, and preferably through channels 14 in the diametrically opposite walls i thereof are water cooling'pipes l5 operatively connected at their forward ends to the tuyere 4 for delivering cooling water thereto and removing the water therefrom. The water cooling pipes 15 are herein illustrated as formed with a tapered nose 16 fitting into a correspondingly shaped socket in the tuyere, thus permitting the pipes and tuyere to be readily disconnected, although it will be apparent that the pipes may be threaded or otherwise secured to the tuyeres if desired.

In actual operation, the hot blast, under suitable pressure, is delivered from the bustle pipe 12 through the goose-neck 11 to the distance piece 6 and thence into the tuyere. So

long as the tuyere remains in proper operative condition, the blast may be continued. In accordance with the present invention, when the tuyere becomes burned away to such an extent that replacement is required, the

. water pipes'15 and the distance piece 6 are moved ax1ally of the blow pipe out of the I inner section A and into the section B. This off the wind from the furnace. As soon as the distance piece ism position within the section B, the valve 5 is moved across the movementis accomplished without cutting blow pipe, thus cutting off communication between the ,two sections. At this time the blast continues to pass from the bustle pipe to the tuyere, whereby normal operation of the furnace is continued. The closure 17 is then opened, and the distance piece removed from the blow pipe A new tuyere is thereupon attached to the end of the distance piece in the desired cooperative relationto the cooling pipes 15, and the distance piece and tuyere inserted in the section B. During this insertion of the new tuyere, and distance piece, the supply of cooling water for the tuyere is turned on, so that the tuyere is being cooled during its insertion into position within the furnace. The closure 17 is then re applied, the valve 5 opened,'and the distance piece and tuyre shoved forwardly into the position shown in Figure 1. This forward movement causes the old tuyere to be pushed into the furnace.

' In cases where it is desired to remove the old tuyere, this may be accomplished either by suitably securing it to the distance piece or to the cooling pipes whereby it is withdrawn concomitantly with the withdrawal of the distance piece. 7 In either case, however, the substitution of tuyeres is made possible, while retaining full wind pressure on the furnace. v I

To those skilled in the art, it will be apparent that permitting the old tuyere to remain in position possesses certain advantages, particularly with respect to protecting the seat against either burnin out or the accumulation of any matter t ereon. By thus protecting the. seat,.the insertion of the new tuyere is facilitated.

By reference more particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be noted that the tuyere is of substantially truly cylindrical outer contour,'thus providing a straight seat where it engages the cooler 3. This permits the old tuyere to be pushed into the furnace when the new tuyere is moved into position, and materially simplifies the construction of the tuyeres themselves. The use of such a straight seat on a tuyere of the character described constitutes one advantageous feature of the construction.

The present invention furtherobviates'the necessity of packing clay in around the nose of an old tuyere, as customary in the a'rt,.t0 protect the same, and the operators, during the tuyere changing operation, and consequently obviates the subsequent step of pricking the clay to re-establish a blast communication with the interior of the furnace. It like-.- wise obviates the present difiiculty with respect to the lodging of pulverulent material in the furnace end of the blow pipe when the wind pressure is cut off, inasmuch as with the present construction, the continuance of the pressure tends to preclude any tendency of the blow pipe to collect material from the.

furnace. Thus, the free movement of the distance piece into position with its new tuyere, is made possible. T

In the accompanying drawings I have not shown the water supply connections for the pipes 15. It will be understood, however, that water will preferably be supplied thereto through flexible connections 18 of such nature that the desired movement of the cooling pipes is made possible in order to permit insertion and removal of the distance piece.

Reference has hereinbefore been made to the use of a distance piece, this being referred to as the tuyere support. It will be understood, however, that the term tuyere support as utilized particularly in the claims, is a generic expression and finds response equally in the pipes and in the-distance piece. The tuyere support might equally well comprise any other structure or means effective for holding it in the desired position during insertion or removal or while in POST? tion within the furnace. The expression therefore is not one of limitation but merely one of definition of function unless otherwise restricted by structural limitations.

In certain cases it is desirable to provide for the complete elimination of the blow pipe during the normal. operation of the furnace.- In Figures 4- to 7, both inclusive, thereis provided a structure by means of which removal of the blow pipe is made possible as soon as a new tuyere is in position. In the embodiment illustrated in these figures, there is provided a tuyere cooler having a straight seat 21 for a tuyere 22, the tuyere and cooler being of the general construction before described. Cooperating with the tuyere is a distance piece 23 having a side opening 24 through which the blast may pass from the bustle pipe to the tuyere through a suitable goose-neck 25. The goose-neck is herein illustrated as including a universal joint connection 26 with an outlet 27 on the bustle pipe and with a similar oint 28 between the goose-neck and the leg pipe 29. The goosen'eck is further illustrated as being resiliently coupled to the leg pipeby means of a spring joint 30 eflective for constantly maintaining the desired seal between the'respective parts. The inner section A of the blow pipe is here in illustrated as being formed integrally with the leg pipe 29, and as having a flange 31 formed on the outer end thereof. The end 32 of the inner section is preferably machined to provide a seat for a slide 33 having a function corresponding to that of the valve 5.

The outer section B is generally similar to that illustrated in Figure 1, but is herein illustrated as provided with ears 34 adapted to overlap lugs 35 formed on a seat flange 36. The seatflange is of such construction as to provide the opposite seat for the slide 33,

the said flange and inner section A being held in yieldingly assembled relationship by springs 37 which exert suflicient pressure on p the slide to maintain the desired seal between the parts while permitting sliding movement thereof. The seat flange 36 is further shown as being yieldingly held in position by a.-

spring 38 surrounding a link 39 having a pivotal mounting 40 on a suitable bracket 41 secured to the furnace wall.

The distance piece 23 is shown as having channels 42 formed therein, corresponding to the channels 14, and adapted to receive cool- 7 pipe section B, as illustrated for example also in Figure 1, while theopenings 46 receive cooling pipes which extend laterally form the inner section A. The distance piece is conviently provided with valves 48 of anysuitable construction adapted to seal either the openings 44 or the openings 46.

As illustrated in Figures 6 and 6", the valve comprises a ball guided by a suitable ribor track 49. With this construction, when the axially extending pipes 43 are utilized, the ball valves 48 will be in the full line position illustrated in Figure 6, thus sealing the openings 46. "When, however, the pipes 47 are utilized, the ballvalves'will move to their dotted lineposition, thus sealing the openings 44. This construction permits the axially'extending pipes 43 to be utilized for supplying cooling water to the tuyere during the insertion of the new tuyere. These pipes may then be removed and the pipes 47. substituted for continuing the supply of cooling water. Preferably both sets of pipes will be in position before the supply of cooling water is cut off through the pipes 43. When the change is to be made, it is then merely necessary to stop the flow of water through the pipes 43 and initiate a water flow through the pipes 47, the valves 48 moving as described to seal the openings 44. Thereafter the pipes 43 may be removed. Thereupon, it is possible to remove the fastening pins by means'of which the ears 34 are connected to the lugs 35, and thus remove the entire outer section B of the blow pipe structure. Thereupon a peep hole closure plate 50 may be applied to the outer. end of the inner section A, as illustrated in Fig- V ure 7, thus permitting observation of the tuyere operation. The plate 50 carries a sleeve 50, the-inner end of which may condVith 'the construction just described, when it is desired to effect removal of a tuyere, the valve is moved to. closed position, the peep hole closure plate 50 re? moved, and the blow: pipe section B ap pliedgthe slide 33 then being moved to establish communication between" the inner and outer sectionsof'theblow pipe. Thereupon the pipes 47-areremoved and the pipes 1 tact the outerend of the distance piece 23.

Lil

the valve or slide from the ting a tuyere to be changed while maintainfull pressure on the furnace.

43 substitutedf The distance piece may then be withdrawn from the mner section A lnto the outer section, and the slide 33 moved to cut off communication between the sections. The operation then proceeds similarly to that before described. The .new tuyere having been appliedto the distance piece, it is moved forwardly by the pipes 43, the pipes 48 are then replaced by the pipes 47, the slide 33 closed and the blow pipe section'B removed to permit application of the peep hole closure plate.

In Figures 8 to 11, both inclusive, there is illustrated a sligltly different embodiment of the invention, in that the distance piece 23 is formed with lugs 51 adapted to receive therebehind ahead 52 carried by asteni53. This stem'has a threaded outer end 5-1 cooperating with avpuller gear55 having a bearing 56 on the outer endof blow pipe section B. When it is desired to effect substitution of tuyeres, the general operation just'described takes place. This puller gear is in turn operated through a gear train 57 which may be manually rotated at will by means of a hand wheel -58, the'gear reduction being such that a new tuyere may be positively forced into position, or the parts withdrawn to permit a tuyere changing op-- oration. The outer blow pipe'section B having been applied, however, the gear 55 is rotated to elfect axial movement of the distance piece23,the cross-head .52 prior to this time having been turned into position to engage behind the lugs 51. The distance piece 23 having been moved outwardly to an extent sufiicient to permit closing of 33', the blow pipe section B is swung to an open position, a new tuyre applied, and the operation reversed.

With all of the forms of the invention hereinbefore described, means is provided for supporting a tuyere during the operation of substituting the same for a tuyere which has previously burned out. In this manner, it is possible for the operator to be at a distance from the furnace such that he may expeditiously perform the necessary operations for effecting changing of a tuyere, while being assured that the new tuyere will be properly guided into position.

Certain advantages of the invention arise improved tuyere structure permit- Other advantages arise from the improved method of changing tuyeres, by means of which the production of the furnace and the maintenance of uniform or substantially uniform conditions therein during a tuyere changing operation, ismade possible.

Vilhile I have herein illustrated and described'certain'preferred embodiments'of my invention, it will be understood that changes in the method and structure herein disclosed may be made without departing either from the spirit of my invention or the scope of my broader claims.

I claim:

7 1. In the method of changing tuyeres, the steps comprising moving a tuyere support outwardly from a furnace while delivering a blast to the furnace, sealing the tuyere support from communication with the furnace, applying-a new tuyere to the support, reestablishing communication between the tuyere support and the furnace, and moving the tuyere support and tuyere into position in the furnace.

' 2. Tn the method of changing tuyeres of a furnace having a blow pipe, the steps comprising moving a tuyere support outwardly from the furnace to a position within a portion of the blow pipe, cutting off communication between the portion of the blow pipe containing the tuyere support and the furnace, removing the tuyere support from the blow pipe and securing a new tuyere thereto, inserting the tuyere support and tuyere within the blow pipe, ire-establishing communication between the portion of the blow pipe containing the tuyere support and new tuyereand the furnace, and moving the new tuyere and tuyere support inwardly within the blow pipe to bring thenew tuyere into operative position within the furnace.

3. In the method of changing tuyeres of a furnace having a blow pipe, the steps comprising moving a tuyere support outwardly to a position withina portion of the blow pipe while retaining the outer end of the blow pipe substantially sealed and while keeping a'blast on the furnace, cutting off communication between the portion of the blow pipe containing the tuyere support and the interior of the furnace, opening the outer end of the blow pipe and removing the tuyere support therefrom, adding a new tuyere to the tuyere support, inserting the same within the blow pipe, closing the outerend of the blow pipe, re-establishing communication between the outer end of the blow pipe and the interior of the furnace, and advancing the tuyere support and new tuyere inwardly within the blow pipe to bring the new tuyere into operative position within the furnace.

6. In a tuyere structure, a blow pipe having a blast connection therewith, a tuyere support having a side opening movable into communication With said blast connection, means for moving said tuyere support axially within the blow pipe while continuing a blast through said connection, and means for sealing oil the tuyere support from communication with the interior of the furnace when so moved.

7 In a tuyere structure, a blow pipe comprising an inner and an outer section, means for delivering a blast to the inner section, means for cutting off communication between the inner and outer section and a tuyere support movable from the inner section to the outer section.

8. In a tuyere structure, a blow pipe co1nprising an inner and an outer section, means for delivering a blast to the inner section, and

means for cutting oif communication between the inner and outer section, there being a tuyere support Within said blow pipe mov- I able from one section thereof into the other.

9. The method of operating blast furnaces, comprising supplying a blast to the furnace.

through a tuyere and tuyere support, removlng the tuyere support while contlnuing the blast securin anew tu ere tothe tu ere su 7 P .i port, and establishing cooperative relatlo'n' between the tuyere support and new tuyere and the furnace.

10. In the method of changing tuyeres, the steps comprising continuing the delivery of a blast to the furnace througha tuyere opening, supporting a new tuyere at a point, exteriorly of the furnace and then moving the new tuyere While so supported throughsaid opening into position Within the furnace.

11. In a tuyere structure, a sectional blow pipe comprising a pair of detachable sections, sealing means effective for'cutting oil" communication between the sections, and a tuyere support movable from a position Within one section to a position Within the outer section.

12. In a blast furnace,'a blow pipe com? prising a detachable outer section, and means for substantially sealing the outer section of the blow pipe from the inner portion theref.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDGAR E. BROSIUS. 

